I rarely have inspiration to write two consecutive articles within the same evening. There has to be something really special. Something on my mind that I can't take out and that I really want to share or talk about. Something spectacular. Well, it is. As you know, I am a huge fan of football. And since last night it was made official: we are living in the era of the greatest footballer to ever grace this planet. I am speaking of course, about Lionel Andres Messi.
Messi last night made it to a place no player before him has ever made it. He received his fourth consecutive Ballon D'or, an award that is given out at the beginning of each year to the player voted as the best of the previous year. This award is given by FIFA (the world football association) along with France Football, a most prestigious French magazine. There were players who had won three of these awards. Some even consecutive, like Messi. But none had ever won four. Until now.
And to think that at the start of his career Messi was instructed to not pursue football. His short build was reason enough for doctors and physiologists to advise this, as young Leonel didn't have the muscular structure to stand up to the physically bigger than him players and he could easily get hurt. But he never gave up. Instead, he decided to work in order to turn his greatest disadvantage into his greatest asset! He was small and fast, so it became easy for him to dribble past big opponents.
Of course along with all the hard work he put into it came the natural talent he possessed. That's what Barcelona's academy school (El Macia) saw in him when they decided to give him a chance. And they weren't wrong either. For someone to be able to shine so brightly through the class of Fabregas, Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Pique, Pedro, Busquets, Valdes and many others he has to be something special.
But that was just the start! At a very young age he was given the chance to play in the first team beside world stars such as Ronaldinho, Henry, Edmilson, Silvinho and many others. Messi shone from the start. He has been a fan-favorite ever since and has rarely lost his position in Barca's starting line-up, especially after Ronaldinho's departure.
Messi has broken one record after another and is still at such a young age. It would take me too long to find and post all of his records, but his most notable ones are most goals scored in one Champions League season, most goals scored in one Primera Liga season, most goals in a Champions League game, most hat-tricks in a Primera Liga season, Barcelona's top scorer overall in the Primera Liga, most goals scored in a Copa Del Rey, and his most recent record, most goals scored within a year. And that's just the icing of the cake. What this kid has done is incredible!
I remember when I used to be young and I would sit in my living room with my father, watching football. He would tell me about the legends of the past like Pele, Socrates, Rivelino, Van Basten, Beckenbauer, Rummenigge, Cruyff, and so many others. He would describe them to me in such a lively fashion that it was like I could see them in front of me, playing. He would say that there are no more players like that anymore and there probably never will be. Boy, would he be shocked to learn that there's actually someone that surpassed even them! Thank you, Lionel Messi, for giving us something to reminisce about with our children!
Messi last night made it to a place no player before him has ever made it. He received his fourth consecutive Ballon D'or, an award that is given out at the beginning of each year to the player voted as the best of the previous year. This award is given by FIFA (the world football association) along with France Football, a most prestigious French magazine. There were players who had won three of these awards. Some even consecutive, like Messi. But none had ever won four. Until now.
And to think that at the start of his career Messi was instructed to not pursue football. His short build was reason enough for doctors and physiologists to advise this, as young Leonel didn't have the muscular structure to stand up to the physically bigger than him players and he could easily get hurt. But he never gave up. Instead, he decided to work in order to turn his greatest disadvantage into his greatest asset! He was small and fast, so it became easy for him to dribble past big opponents.
Of course along with all the hard work he put into it came the natural talent he possessed. That's what Barcelona's academy school (El Macia) saw in him when they decided to give him a chance. And they weren't wrong either. For someone to be able to shine so brightly through the class of Fabregas, Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Pique, Pedro, Busquets, Valdes and many others he has to be something special.
But that was just the start! At a very young age he was given the chance to play in the first team beside world stars such as Ronaldinho, Henry, Edmilson, Silvinho and many others. Messi shone from the start. He has been a fan-favorite ever since and has rarely lost his position in Barca's starting line-up, especially after Ronaldinho's departure.
Messi has broken one record after another and is still at such a young age. It would take me too long to find and post all of his records, but his most notable ones are most goals scored in one Champions League season, most goals scored in one Primera Liga season, most goals in a Champions League game, most hat-tricks in a Primera Liga season, Barcelona's top scorer overall in the Primera Liga, most goals scored in a Copa Del Rey, and his most recent record, most goals scored within a year. And that's just the icing of the cake. What this kid has done is incredible!
I remember when I used to be young and I would sit in my living room with my father, watching football. He would tell me about the legends of the past like Pele, Socrates, Rivelino, Van Basten, Beckenbauer, Rummenigge, Cruyff, and so many others. He would describe them to me in such a lively fashion that it was like I could see them in front of me, playing. He would say that there are no more players like that anymore and there probably never will be. Boy, would he be shocked to learn that there's actually someone that surpassed even them! Thank you, Lionel Messi, for giving us something to reminisce about with our children!
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